Dark silhouettes of huge firs stood out in the fog. The moisture filling the chilly morning air made it hard to breathe. Itachi and Kisame were descending a steep broken road, more like a ravine, to one of the passages into the village known only in narrow circles within Konoha.
Itachi knew it too.
A bell tinkled melodiously. Undoubtedly, the hats and cloaks were an excellent solution from the organization. The cloak protected from the cold at night, the wide-brimmed hat from rain and sun. Only that damn bell frayed Itachi's already rattled nerves.
They walked unhurriedly. Nowhere to rush. The Kyuubi jinchuriki wouldn't just leave Leaf on his own? The village kept eyes on its ace. Still, Itachi was hurrying anyway, and each slow step weighed heavier on him. Kisame wouldn't understand the sudden haste and might start suspecting him. He couldn't give himself away.
Ahead, through the fog veil, two symmetrical white lights appeared, hovering in the air. Soon a wooden fence and gates with a plaque of the Hidden Leaf symbol on the roof came into view. A lone guard stood at the gates.
Itachi and Kisame headed straight for the gates.
The guard eyed the strangers closely, trying to make out faces under the hats, and warily glanced at the huge bandaged bulk with a hilt behind Kisame's back. The partners approached the gates so confidently that the gatekeeper clearly hesitated: maybe they had the right?
"Uh, respected..."
They stopped. Itachi activated his Sharingan. Even a sidelong glance from under the hat was enough to catch the guard in genjutsu. The man rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground, dropping his staff. Kisame silently passed through the gates.
Sometimes it seems to me this village is defenseless as a baby. Just because I know its weak spots? Or is it really so?
Itachi cast a last glance at the gatekeeper and followed Kisame.
****
The balcony's concrete had already chafed his knees, but Jiraiya was ready to endure any discomfort for gathering intel. From his observation post, he had a great view of the village bathhouse. The calculation was perfect. The hide impeccable. He knew exactly from which angle the coveted gap was visible and sat in ambush with binoculars.
"Oh, what a one! And this one... good, good... Oh, Konoha!"
"Still up to foolishness even in old age?" an elderly voice sounded behind him.
Jiraiya choked on his next exclamation.
"Gathering intel. Nothing to be done," he announced casually and added with displeasure: "What is it this time, esteemed councilors?"
"Important news," creaked old lady Koharu. "Shisui of the Body Flicker, who was to assume the post of Fifth Hokage, is dead."
Jiraiya tore himself from contemplating female forms and frowned.
"Dead how?"
"His body was found at dawn by an ANBU squad in the Naka River. Washed ashore downstream. Not far from Hidden Leaf."
"Unthinkable... The kid was strong," Jiraiya muttered. "Who?"
The councilors exchanged glances.
"There are suspicions it's Itachi's doing," Koharu said. "No signs of violent death. Poison analyses negative. The most logical option..."
"...genjutsu," the sannin finished for her.
He narrowed his eyes, peering at the half-destroyed Leaf.
"So Itachi's back?"
"Could be," Homura nodded. "The village is leaderless again. Since, besides Shisui, you were the only other candidate, Jiraiya..."
"No-no-no!" He stood up and cut off the councilor with a gesture. "I disagree."
"Not like your decision interests anyone, Jiraiya. It's your duty. You're one of Leaf's Legendary Three, and there's no better candidate for Fifth. You must lead and protect Konoha, especially in such a dire time..."
"Stop!" Jiraiya interrupted. "In the Trio, if memory serves, there was someone else. Tsunade, right?"
The councilors exchanged glances.
"She'd be perfect," Homura replied. "Granddaughter of the First..."
"But we have no idea where to find her!"
"I'll track her down. Bring her to the village, deal?"
The elders clearly doubted.
"I don't like this idea," Koharu said. "If Shisui's killer infiltrated the village, letting you go is risky, Jiraiya. You're needed here. As Hokage."
"You know, folks, I've been tracking Orochimaru for a long time. He was part of some organization."
"Organization?" Homura asked, narrowing his eyes.
"They call themselves Akatsuki. Few of them, less than ten, but all S-rank rogue ninja. Orochimaru was among them. And also Uchiha Itachi. You suspect he killed Shisui, right?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Recently Akatsuki members paired up and went wandering the world looking for... something. Techniques? Weapons? Money? Or something else?"
"What are you hinting at, Jiraiya?"
"Motives, folks. Why would Itachi kill Shisui? Why return to the village?"
"Shisui's corpse was found without eyes. He took the eyes."
"Possibly. But Shisui could just as well have been in the way..."
"You're suggesting he came back for Yondaime Hokage's legacy?"
"Exactly. Kyuubi's a useful thing, isn't it? Here's my proposal. I'll go find the princess and take the kid along. Thus we kill three birds with one stone: I'll get you a Hokage, protect Naruto from Akatsuki, and draw the danger away from Konoha."
"Fine, if you're right," Homura said slowly. "But these are guesses. If these so-called Akatsuki aren't after Kyuubi—Konoha will be defenseless."
"Hm. I'm more than sure they want the Fox."
"I think you're just looking for an excuse to dodge responsibility," the old lady noted.
Jiraiya ignored her and collapsed the binoculars.
"So, deal?"
"N-no," Homura clearly hesitated. "The village is weakened. If the search drags..."
"We'll check, esteemed ones. If Akatsuki tails us and Naruto—I'm right. If not... We'll make it back in time."
The elders were silent. Koharu anxiously eyed thoughtful Homura. He finally shook his head:
"Fine. Do as you will."
The old lady sighed.
"But don't you dare desert!" Homura threatened.
"Me?" Jiraiya marveled and put on an offended face. "Me?"
But the elders were adamant. They knew exactly who they were dealing with.
****
Kisame shook his head. The damn bell on the hat jingled again.
"They avoided total destruction," the swordsman said. "But they got beat bad."
Itachi surveyed his native village, bathed in sunlight, from the height of the fortress wall. Finally, after days of cloudy weather and rain, the clouds had parted. Half-ruined house turrets stuck out among the fluffy greenery.
"A village that prospered like no other. Looks so pathetic," Itachi said in a colorless voice.
"Not like you," his partner teased slyly. "So attachment to home lives even in one like you?"
He always addressed him extremely politely, despite the age difference. He sensed power surpassing his own.
"No," Itachi replied. "It died long ago."
"So, off to find the jinchuriki? You know everything here, Itachi-san. Lead."
"No."
Kisame turned to him questioningly.
"I have one matter," Itachi explained.
"Mm? Old friends, eh, Itachi-san?" Kisame kept teasing.
"Old debts."
"Then indeed, better settle them now," the swordsman grinned, baring sharp teeth. "So nothing distracts from the mission. Old debts must be repaid."
"Meet at the dango restaurant on the central street."
"Which one?"
"With the terrace," Itachi replied and vanished from the fortress wall.
****
The day started great. All morning Naruto trained in a shady grove, then finally managed to talk with Konohamaru. After the Third's death, Naruto had no idea how to approach Konohamaru, but today everything fell into place. In the end, he had a great ramen breakfast, even if he wore out his nerves hunting for a coupon. Now this pervert hermit had suddenly latched onto him. Where'd he even come from.
"Why? Why should I go somewhere with you?"
Naruto had already planned the next week and had zero desire to head off to who-knows-where. He could practically see morning training, lots of ramen, and maybe cool new missions with Kakashi-sensei.
"What expedition, dattebayo? Got nothing better to do?"
"Now-now," the pervert hermit replied placatingly. "It'll be a tough expedition. Need to find one lady and ask her a few questions."
He winked playfully.
A lady again.
"No time for your erotic escapades. Training awaits!"
"Training?"
Naruto scowled and locked his hands behind his head.
"I'll make Kakashi-sensei teach me cool techniques like Chidori, dattebayo!"
It stung terribly that Kakashi-sensei spent all free time with Sasuke. Not just Sasuke, even nee-chan Sarada, but not him! What injustice?
"Uh, hm..." The pervert hermit pondered. "I doubt you'll master that technique."
Naruto turned away angrily.
Even this guy.
"And that lady's a knockout, by the way! Intrigued?"
"Nuh-uh. No way, dattebayo!"
The hermit sighed disappointedly and stepped away. Naruto still squinted angrily and listened to the steady clack of his steps.
"Well... Fine, nothing to be done. Sigh, no one to teach a technique cooler than Chidori."
Naruto short-circuited. He listened warily.
Technique? Cooler than Chidori?
"Well, okay. I'll offer it to Sasuke..."
Naruto was in front of him in an instant and yelled:
"No Sasuke! I'm in, dattebayo! I'm going! Right away!"
He bolted home at full speed.
"Just don't leave, ero-sennin! Stay put, dattebayo!"
With a heavy backpack on, Naruto marched to the meeting spot with the pervert hermit. His soul danced in anticipation: new technique, even cooler than Chidori!
Heh-heh, that jerk Sasuke will acknowledge my power, dattebayo!
Only one thought gnawed at Naruto. He still hadn't talked to Sarada. They'd parted after the funeral and hadn't spoken since. Naruto had only glimpsed her once: she was walking with Sasuke from training, and spotting him, she turned away without even greeting.
Naruto hadn't meant to hurt her and hadn't thought their talk would hit such an unpleasant dead end. He recalled Sarada's gaze: prickly and angry at first, but with each word his, the anger in her eyes melted, and the gaze became childish, confused, and sad. And there was so much inexpressible pain that Naruto's heart clenched.
I really hurt her bad...
They didn't understand each other at all. Lived in different worlds, and Sarada didn't get his world, while he couldn't reach hers, dig in, and figure out what world she lived in. Naruto bitterly realized her world was far from as rosy, but that didn't sit right with him. He didn't know when nee-chan had grown so distant. Six years had passed for him, not her, yet it felt the opposite.
Sorry, Sarada-chan. Didn't mean to hurt you. Just want to understand you, dattebayo!
That was another reason he refused the pervert hermit's offer. Not just training and ramen. Sarada too. Naruto kept mustering courage to talk to her once more, apologize, and... just couldn't find the strength.
But letting the pervert take Sasuke for new technique training—Naruto couldn't allow that categorically, so he instantly agreed to the journey.
On the way to the hermit, he risked a detour past the Uchiha house.
Who knows how long this "expedition" will drag. I won't rest till I sort this now.
No time to wait under the house, so Naruto took a desperate step. He entered the entrance and went up to Sasuke and Sarada's floor. He'd never allowed himself that.
Sasuke will call me an idiot again. Fine.
Naruto stood before the apartment door, gathering courage. He took a deep breath, pressed the doorbell, and tensed, listening. It was still quiet behind the door. No one rushed to open. Naruto waited minutes and rang again.
Maybe they're at training?
When no one answered the third ring either, he sighed sadly and shuffled down.
Failed again, dattebayo...
****
Kakashi locked the door. Outside the apartment, Sarada felt especially uneasy and scared. She nervously scanned for bugs.
"Where to?" Sasuke asked sullenly.
"To the Residence. I can't babysit forever."
"But..."
"Don't worry."
Panting Pakkun burst into the common corridor and sprawled on the floor, splaying short paws and lolling his tongue.
"Oh, Pakkun. News?" Kakashi asked.
"Wore me out," the dog grumbled, breathing heavily.
"Now-now, sorry..."
"Found something interesting. Coming?"
Pakkun struggled up, licked his wet nose, and stared questioningly.
"Yeah. Just drop the kids off first."
Sarada tensed.
"What'd he find? Maybe... Maybe he found who really killed Shisui-san," she thought hopefully, but then worried: "Or learned what I did?"
Daytime heat and crowded street noise grated on nerves. The peaceful bustle of merchants and civilians seemed empty and pointless. These people lived normal lives, unaware of what happened steps away.
"...not guilty of anything..." Shisui's voice reminded.
But Sarada looked into her heart and found no desire to protect them.
Night fear melted under bright sunlight. Sarada still warily glanced around for insects, but in her empty soul, jammed mechanisms revived.
Itachi's curious voice softly slid into her ears:
"Truth? Can you destroy Root yourself?"
Now, in daylight, it seemed a heavier task than last evening. Yesterday it was simple. Alone in an empty grove, enemies attacked. She felt inexplicable painful power awakening murderous thirst, and Sarada gladly indulged it. Nothing hard about depriving lives around her from under dad's technique protection.
But now Sarada saw many obstacles.
She remembered Root ANBU base was somewhere at Hokage Rock's base, but what if they'd relocated in recent years? Even if not, couldn't just walk in. Could break through fighting, but reaching Danzo not guaranteed, and open war on Root—regular ANBU and jonin would stop her. She couldn't beat them all. If caught like that—she'd be judged. Then what? Flee Konoha? Where? Plus, not sure Danzo's view wasn't shared by all.
Fight alone against a whole village?
The more Sarada thought, the more barriers she found. Uncle's curiosity now seemed quite justified.
Figured it out instantly once I spoke. Knew I couldn't pull it off.
Red walls of the Residence appeared ahead. Up close, it looked less bright and majestic: paint on walls faded and peeled in places. Following sensei, they climbed the outer stairs and entered a floor.
Pakkun suddenly froze before them for no reason.
"He's here."
Sasuke tensed sharply and armed a kunai.
"Who's here?"
"Breathe," Kakashi-sensei cooled him and pushed the nearest door.
Sasuke relaxed a bit and lowered his armed hand. Sarada cautiously peeked into the half-dark dusty room after sensei. Shelves everywhere crammed with books and scrolls. Lamps burned over one section. Kakashi headed confidently to the light.
"Better not touch anything."
Sarada followed, eyeing book spines and scroll labels.
Library?
A black-haired man in shinobi uniform suddenly straightened and bowed to Kakashi-sensei.
"Watch them? As agreed."
"Hai."
"Thanks."
Kakashi turned to them.
"Sarada, Sasuke, this is Aoba-san. Stay with him. Let's go, Pakkun."
He dashed off.
"Sensei!" Sasuke exclaimed.
Kakashi stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"Mm?"
Sasuke clenched his fists tight.
"I'll come with you."
Rokudaime narrowed his eyes.
"You found Itachi, right?" Sasuke insisted. "I'm coming too."
"No. You're not."
"Damn it! Why?!"
"Could be dangerous. Stay with Aoba."
Sarada looked at her father in surprise.
We're still too weak. And you know it, Dad.
"Kakashi..." Sasuke choked with anger. "This is Uchiha business. You have no part in it!"
Rokudaime turned and fixed his pupil firmly.
"Sorry, Sasuke. You stay. Not up for discussion."
Sasuke, teeth gritted, watched his mentor vanish through the door gap, then slammed his fist into the shelf full force.
"How dare he?!"
Sarada flinched, hunching her shoulders in fright.
"Ahem," a voice came from behind.
She turned to the black-haired man in dark glasses.
"Stay here, okay? Don't wander far," he said and resumed rummaging scrolls.
Sarada paced along nearby shelves, reading titles closely. Throat scratched dry from stuffiness and dust.
"Aoba-san?" she called timidly. "This a library?"
"You could say that. More like a warehouse of junk."
"Secret?"
"Nah."
And buried in scrolls again.
"Uh..." Sarada faltered. "Anything on poisons here?"
Aoba pondered, scratched his chin.
"No idea. Poisons... closer to medicine, probably. Check those rows."
"Thanks."
She bowed politely.
****
Itachi stood openly in the clearing under the trees. Leaning on a simple staff, Danzo emerged from the thickets and slowly limped toward him.
"Uchiha Itachi."
Itachi was silent. He saw: many Root members lurked around their meeting spot. Too many for an underground org. Danzo surely didn't scruple taking even irregular kids: needed to cover damage from Sarada.
Destroy Root, mm? Beyond you, Sarada. Mangekyo—not all. You act too recklessly. They caught you with just five even under Susanoo protection. That's not how it's done.
"Why'd you return, Itachi?"
"To ensure the deal holds after Third's death."
"The deal stands," Danzo replied calmly. "Your brother is fine."
"And Shisui?" Itachi asked evenly.
Something sharp and evil flashed in Danzo's single eye.
"No deal on Shisui's life... ever existed."
Silence fell on the clearing.
"No uprising threat anymore. No need for Shisui's death."
Itachi spoke so calmly, as if his dead friend meant nothing. Even as a child he'd learned to control emotions, now perfected it.
"Yes, thanks to you we overcame the Uchiha crisis. But there was another threat," Danzo replied icily.
"They wanted Shisui as Fifth. You couldn't allow that, could you?"
"You know everything. As I predicted, you became an excellent shinobi."
"Your praise is out of place now. Shisui was loyal to Leaf."
"So sure? Hm. I think otherwise. Uchiha Shisui—your complete opposite, eh, Itachi? So much light in one man..."
Itachi frowned.
"...at first glance," Danzo added.
"At first glance?"
"Darkness in his heart. Much darkness. Like yours, though. But you used yours for Konoha's good, while Shisui's goals were never fully clear to me. Strongest genjutsu user, shinobi controlling time. I had reason to believe he bent Third's and some councilors' wills."
Itachi heeded every word.
"Shisui never accepted your decision, Itachi? Now think. Uchiha in Hokage's seat. Wouldn't he avenge his clan?"
"He didn't know you were involved."
"Hm. Really?"
Itachi narrowed his eyes.
"Uchiha Shisui was never an idiot. I think he didn't rule out a link between village stance and your act."
"And based on guesses, you sentenced him," Itachi concluded.
"You truly think your ex-friend innocent and pure soul?" Danzo asked caustically.
Itachi was silent. He didn't. And admitted Danzo's words had rational grain.
Uchiha Shisui, whom Itachi knew from childhood, would never do what Root's leader now painted. But the Itachi Shisui knew from childhood would never massacre his clan. After Uchiha tragedy, both changed. Years passed since paths fully diverged; anything could happen.
Could Shisui control councilors and Third via genjutsu? Yes. Plan to take Hokage post and destroy Konoha from within for Uchiha deaths? Shisui could do anything. Light and good-natured, yet smart and firm. Itachi didn't believe his friend meant to destroy Hidden Leaf, but allowed the possibility.
Danzo stayed silent, giving time to think.
"Your words aren't illogical," Itachi said finally. "But don't justify you."
"Mm?"
The old man eyed suspiciously.
"You sentenced Shisui. I sentenced you."
Silence hung.
"Explain," Danzo demanded.
"I spared you to benefit Konoha. But lately you fall short of expectations."
Danzo's thin lips stretched in unkind smile.
"So you still consider Shisui of the Body Flicker a friend? I thought he saw you opposite."
"I believe you deprived Hidden Leaf of mighty force, driven not by sense but paranoia and Uchiha prejudice. Mistake that'll cost village—and you foremost—dearly."
Danzo snorted contemptuously.
"Thanks for excellent mission, Uchiha Itachi. But not for you to decide Leaf's fate or judge my choices. You're still young, and besides, a renegade now..."
Itachi casually lowered eyelids.
"Me."
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan